The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-11-24
SHOOTING CANVASBACKS.
Beginning of the Annual Slaughte
on the Susouehanna.


Under Maryland law the open season
began November l and lasts till April
l, but shooting can only be done on Mon
days, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The ducking fields On the Susquehanna
river are known and talked about all over
the United States where the sportmen
live, and are probably the finest in the
world. Ducks are found in abundance
in other tributaries of the Chesa-
peake, in Albemarle aud Pamlico
sounds, in North Carolina, in Florida, in
tributaries to the Gulf of Mexico, and in
many other bodies of water, but they have
no such flavor as the canvasback, black
and blue heads that feed on the flats at
the mouth of the Susquehanna river. The
favor is due to the peculiar diet upon
which they feed. This is the wild celery.
The wild celery is the wild ducks daintiest
food. They will leave any other feed
ground and come to the Susquebanna
shore. The water in which it grows is
fresh, or very slightly brackish. Below
Spesutia island the water is saltish, and
the ducks do not feed there in great num-
bers. This wild celery is long ribbon
grass, which grows so thick in summer
that sometimes with difficulty q
boat can be forced through it. 1t takes
root in the mud, and its top comes to the
surface of the water with the tide. In
winter the top dies and is carried off in
masses. The white, toothsome root, about
four or five inches long, is what the wild
duck searches for. He dives for it and
feeds upon it with tho greatest delight
1t resembles somewhat fine wire grass
The peculiar character of the bottom en-
riched as it is by the constant washing
down of the fertile soil of Cecil and Hart
ford, and the fresh water makes it grow
in great abundance and gives to its pc
culiar taste. The grass does not grow to
any extent below Spesutia island. Ducks
that feed in salt water, on fish and other
foods, are never of as good flavor nor as
fat as those which get their living from
fresh bottoms.
No gunner is allowed TO cross the gun
ming line before 8 a. m. If he does he has
to pay 1926 fine, and it may forfeit his out.
fit. Rich and enthusiastic gunners from
the cities sometimes pay the fine in order
to continue the sport. Counting in all the
shooters from both counties, about 250
licenses are issued yearly. At the open
ing of the season canvas back ducks bring
on an average 81 pair, red heads 75
cents to 81, and black-heads so cents o
pair.
The best shooting is on the opening
day. The ducks are not frightened, and
can be more easily approached, and
every gunner, having been eager
for months to get a shot, goes tC
work in earnest. The best record made
in these fields was about eight years ago
when, on the opening day, William Dob
son, of Havre de Grace, an expert gunner
killed from box $40, and burst fine
gun before he stopped. He kept Two mer
busy all day picking up dead ducks. The
second gun got at times too hot to hold
Ten or fifteen years ago 5000 we're killed
in days shooting. In an average
season there are here about fifty boxes
and $50 bushwhackers. The capital
invested in the business is from $4,000
to 100000. This includes boats, de-
coys, boxes, guns, etc. From $4,000 to
$4,000 ducks have been killed in a season
in latter years. They are sold every
where. The best prices are given New
York, Washington, Boston, Baltimore and
Philadelphia. No wild fowl can equal in
flavor Susquehanna canvass back duck.
Gunners this year complain good deal
about the way ducks are being caught by
trammel nets. These nets are made